Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Neptune Island (Long Island Sound)

Neptune Island (Long Island Sound)

Neptune Island (Long Island Sound) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) (delete) – (View log)

I believe this article qualifies for speedy deletion (under criterion G5) as the creation of a banned user (User:Jvolkblum) evading the ban. All substantial edits to the article are by socks of the banned user. However, the speedy deletion template was removed on the grounds that it appears to be a "seemingly worthwhile, problem-free article."

The article does indeed seem to be worthwhile and problem-free, but its creator is a user who has specialized in creating content that seems good, but turns out on careful examination to be artfully disguised garbage. Among the long-term disruptive behaviors for which this user earned his/her community ban is falsification of sources. This has included adding content that was copied verbatim from copyrighted sources but was inserted in articles with citations to completely unrelated sources (typically an obscure book title with a date from the early 20th century that is not available online), citations to plausible sounding sources that upon examination do not even vaguely support the content, and reference callouts that identify an online source as something completely different than what it actually is. Additionally, although the topic is superficially "worthwhile," close examination suggests that it's pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things. My eyeball estimate from a map indicates that the island that is the subject of the article has a total area of less than 2 acres, and the main topic of the historical sources cited in the article has been disputes over real estate transactions.

The article does cite some sources that are related to the topic, but much of the content in the article is not associated with any reference callouts, and the sources cited don't necessarily support the information with which the citations are associated. For example, this 1848 history book is cited to support the sentence "When Louis A. DePau purchased Locust Island (now included in Glen Island) in 1847 and built his residence there, he established a chain-ferry between that island and Neptune Island for his own private use, landing at a dock on the west of Neptune Island." The book does exist, and it does state that Louis A. DePau purchased Locust Island, but it says nothing about his building a residence or a chain ferry, and it does not indicate that Locust is part of Glen Island (another source cited earlier in the article does document the name change). The following paragraph has extensive historical information, but the only source cited documents only that New Rochelle and Pelham Railroad Company and the New Rochelle Street Railway Company were established in 1885 and that a branch line to the Neptune House dock was planned; none of the other details in the paragraph are documented by that source. Based on my past experience with the banned user, I think it likely that the entire article is copied from some source that is not identified or cited in the article. In view of the fact that this is a banned user whose past offenses have included trying to pawn off copyvio content by inserting seemingly valid false references, I believe this article should be deleted in accordance with Wikipedia policy on enforcing community bans by reverting edits, which states "the presumption in ambiguous cases should be to revert". If someone is willing to take responsibility for verifying the article and rendering it in their own words, that's fine, but keeping the current version because it looks like it might be OK is, in essence, saying that WP:V and WP:Ban have no significance.

Finally, for the record, this is at least the third time this article has been created. Earlier versions that were deleted included Neptune Island (New Rochelle) and Neptune Island (New York). Orlady (talk) 03:21, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

• Note: This debate has been included in the list of New York-related deletion discussions. —Orlady (talk) 04:14, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

• Strong keep This AfD is latest in running vendetta of Orlady against New Rochelle area articles. As Orlady notes, it "seems" decent. Notability is asserted, clear. Orlady is wasting my, others time with this pointless AfD, put in deliberately just in advance of my posting a community unban proposal for the allegedly banned user, who in fact is one of perhaps many misidentified by Orlady as being associates of one former wikipedia editor. This verges on wp:pointy. I am inclined to consider opening an RFC/User behavior on Orlady's actions here and elsewhere. P.S. My response copied exactly from my response to another simultaneous AFD opened by Orlady on another New Rochelle article. It does not merit revising. If you oppose here, please also copy your response to oppose there, at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (New Rochelle, New York) doncram (talk) 04:39, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

KEEP -

• The island is geographic landform of New York state, falling under several sub-categories including Island of New York and

Long Island Sound. Numerous articles about minor U.S. islands exist that have never been challenged for notability. Some examples include:

Davis Island (Connecticut)

Conspiracy Island

Griffen Island (West Virginia)

Rabbit Island (Rhode Island)

• The island is recognized as a 'New York physical, cultural and historic feature' by US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) Geographic Names Information System (UGIS) Neptune Island.
• The island's history dates back several hundred years. (Examples):

- It was the site of "The Neptune House" which was a popular summer resort during the mid-1800's. (The firm Currier & Ives produced a print of the hotel.)

- The US Government operated ferry service to & from Fort Slocum (on nearby Davids' Island) was run from Neptune Island.

- Chain-ferries and ferries to Glen Island Park operated from docks on Neptune Island.

- The bridge/roadway connecting Glen Island County Park to the mainland crosses the western portion of Neptune Island.

• Present day uses of the island:

- Home to the Huguenot Yacht club (historic/ influential boating organization)

- It is the location of the city park Neptune Park